Witness in Roy Collins murder trial says she lied to gardai

The girlfriend of a chief State witness in the Roy Collins murder trial has admitted that she lied to gardaí to protect her partner, saying that both of them are still living in fear.

26-year-old Elaine Walsh has been giving evidence in the trial 36-year-old Wayne Dundon from Lenihan Avenue, Prospect and 24-year-old Nathan Killeen from Hyde Road, who deny murdering 35-year-old Roy Collins at his business in the Roxboro Shopping Centre on the 9th of April 2009.

Live95fm's Denis Tierney reports...

Elaine Walsh said she lied in her statement to gardai about the whereabouts of her partner Gareth Collins on the day before the murder in order to protect him. "He was terrified and I was trying to do the right thing", she added.

The hairdresser said she overheard Gareth speaking to gardaí and decided to say he was with her that night.

However she said she was in court now to tell the truth and admitted she didn't know where he was.

She repeatedly said she lied adding that they were in fear of their lives and they still are to this day.

The 26-year-old also denied ever discussing with Gareth the possibility of him making a statement to gardai to get the Dundons 'locked up for life' as Gareth's life was already at risk.

The other main witness in the trial, convicted killer Anthony 'Noddy' McCarthy, is expected to give evidence when the case resumes at the Special Criminal Court later.